While driving the pre-collision system (PCS) turns on unexpectedly, without any warning lights or sounds, and applies the brakes. This happens when I am driving in traffic with plenty of space between the car in front of me. I typically drive between 3-6 seconds behind the car in front of me to allow for at least 300 feet in space when driving at highway speeds. Despite leaving plenty of room for cars in front of me, on multiple occasions the car has started braking abruptly while going anywhere between 50, 40, 30, or 20 miles per hour. This can be verified for inspection upon request. Despite there being a recall for my specific year, make, and model car (2015 Toyota Avalon) for this exact issue my VIN number is not covered. Toyota is requiring me to pay out of pocket for them to 1) determine if its malfunctioning and 2) replace the system, which is a huge conflict of interest. Even though the Driver's Manual says that I can disable the PCS by clicking on the PCS on/off button within the driver's glovebox, there is no such button, only a blank button cover. Not having the ability to disable the PCS system, or worse, allowing it to continue braking while I'm driving is a serious hazard. The car can start braking while I am accelerating to merge onto expressway on-ramps, or while changing lanes at the same speed of traffic. The car can also unexpectedly brake while cars are traveling too close behind me. I want to know why my VIN was not included in the initial recall and why I now have to pay to have it looked at or repaired when its clearly malfunctioning and can't be turned off as the Driver's Manual says it can. I should not have to pay $175 an hour for several hours for a Toyota dealership to diagnosis it and then another $175 an hour for 2.5 hours for them to install the fix and whatever the new component costs. I recently bought this car at 35,500 miles and the issue immediately started occurring just as the warranty expired at 36,000 miles.

- Westminster, MD, USA

The contact owns a 2015 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop immediately and made an abnormal sound. Additionally, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 39,000.

- Houston, TX, USA

The contact owns a 2015 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that while driving at 35 mph and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle failed to stop immediately causing the braking distance to be extended. The brake sensor warning light illuminated. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. Toyota of irving located at 1999 w airport fwy, irving, tx 75062, was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 79,000.

- Gran Prairie, TX, USA

On May 25th, 2020 I was pulling into a taco bell drive through. It was located up a little hill. As I drove up the hill I hit a little curbing. I backed up and adjusted the car to miss the curb. When I put the car into drive it lurched forward at a high speed. Seeing I was going to hit the car in front, I hit my brakes. The car did not stop until I had hit the car in front with a lot of force. That car was thrown into the truck in front of it. That was the beginning of a huge scare! I put the car in reverse so I could observe the damage to my car the car in front of me. When I did so the car accelerate at full speed in reverse going back down the hill and headed straight for a drugstore. The car was making a whiring sound, like when you rev up the engine. I pushed the brakes to the floor but the car would not stop but keep going faster! I pumped the brakes some more but it would not stop. When I saw I was headed into the store, I turned the wheels to avoid it and tried braking again without stopping. I finally hit the stop engine button but not before the car hit a parked truck in the store lot which stopped it. It was the most frightening experience I have ever had. I am now afraid to get into a car. I was too upset to take photos. I will list the crash report in the file below.

- Maineville, OH, USA

On Feb. 5, 2020 at about 6:30 am, my wife was pulling up behind cars stopped at a red light, as she applied the brakes to stop, the car suddenly accelerated, she pressed the brakes as hard as she could, the car continued to drive forward hitting the car ahead of her in line. She could hear the car engine racing and tried to put the car in park, but it went into reverse and rapidly moved backwards, even with her foot on the brake, hit the car behind her. She than once again tried to up the car in park, but put it back in drive and the our car accelerated forward again fill speed hitting the car ahead for a second time, all the time holding her foot down as hard as she could on the brake. After hitting the car ahead for the second time, she pushed the engine stop button and the engine stopped running at full RPM. She noted that there the front tires were smoking alot since the tires were rotaing even though the car was at a stop, due to the engine racing full RPM. Police were called and they dispatched a tow truck for our car. The police never arrived, the tow truck loaded our car and towed it to the aaa storage yard.

- Valley Center, CA, USA

I was heading down snow geese South in duck N.C. to turn left onto wood duck drive. As I approached the turn, my brakes failed and I went into the parking area of 1324 duck road. I could hit a parked truck or house. I hit the truck. The airbags didnt deploy. None of them. It was a head on collision. My car was totaled. The police showed up and were suprised that there were no airbags. This concerns me greatly. The brakes failing was scary enough, but absolutely no airbags!

- Pensacola, FL, USA

The contact owns a 2015 Toyota Avalon. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V728000 (service brakes). The part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Las Cruces, NM, USA

The contact owns a 2015 Toyota Avalon. The contact received recall notices for the service brakes and vehicle speed control; however, the parts were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and the pcs system was deactivated. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The NHTSA campaign numbers were unknown. The VIN was invalid. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. Updated 05/11/16 the consumer referenced the pre-collision system. Updated 06/16/16.8jb

- Easton, PA, USA

I have a safety concern. I bought a new car a couple of weeks before this incident; this is what I experienced with the pcs system. It went off with warning buzzer, retracting the seat belts. To my surprise, the frontal car was more than 120 to 150 feet away!; I believe I was driving at about 50-55 mph. Since this is my first experience with the pcs system, I am not sure if this was normal or whether I should bring the car in for inspection. I took the car to the dealer; they gave me a Toyota case no. 152660366 ; mechanic said he performed health check on the vehicle and passed. I have not heard from either the dealer nor the manufacturer since then. Please advice. Additional info: Vehicle in motion about 50 mph, city street driving, straight broad

- Columbia, MD, USA